Trestle



Dec. 10, 1946. H. w. GOOSMANN 2,412;395 I TRES TLE Filed June 25, 1945 Z-Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

1 7 L 37 4 M [6 flew/m0 l/k Goosmam J ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 10, 11946 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE TRESTLE Herman W. Goosmann, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Application June 25, 1945, Serial No. 601,523

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates toimprovements in trestles.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a collapsible trestle which is Well adapted as a saw-horse, work bench support and in various other relations.

Second, to provide a trestle which may be collapsed quite compactly but when erected is strong and rigid.

Third, to provide a trestle having these advantages which may be economically produced.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of the invention will definitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A structure which embodies the features of the invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

' Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention designed foruse as a saw-horse.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section corresponding to that of Fig. 2 in partially collapsed position.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the structure when collapsed.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary View in section on broken line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view partially in longitudinal section illustrating the relation of the legs to the leg rails and the interlocking elements for the legs and top rail.

Fig. 7 is an inverted view of the structure in collapsed position.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated comprises a top bar I which may have suitable dimensions for the particular use for which the structure is intended. The leg rails 2 and 3 are preferably formed with beveled upper edges-4. and 5 respectively, adapted to abut the under side of the top bar when the legs are in fully erected position as shown in Fig. 2. The leg rail 2 is secured to the top bar by a hinge designated generally by the numeral ii, the hinge illustrated being of the leaf type. cured to the leg rail 2 while the leaf 8 is secured to the under side of the top bar. These hinges are positioned adjacent the ends of the top bar.

The leaves 8 are provided with depending arms or lugs 9 at their outer ends having keyhole slots l arranged diagonally or in an inclined relation as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The legs II are arranged in pairs and hingedly connected by the hinges l2 having inwardly offset knuckle carry-.

The leaf 1 is se- 4 ing the legs in pairs. The legs are pivoted asby the bolts l5 to the inner sides of the leg rails, the leg hinges constituting hinges for swingably supporting the leg rails 3. The pintles are provided with heads i6 and project from the hinges to constitute headed studs ll engageable with the keyhole slots on the arms or lugs 9.

The legs are held in full} erected position in which position they diverge downwardly by means of the jointed braces 22, the members of which are pivoted to the legs at I8. These braces are of the type in which their connecting pivot i9 swings through the plane of the pivots I8 and therefore the braces constitute locking members, one of the brace members having stops 20 engaging a recess 2| in the other. When the braces are collapsed the legs may be swung toward each other, thus swinging the leg rails toward each other into parallel relation as shown in Fig. 3. In this position the legs may be swung into substantially parallel relation to the leg rails and lie between them. When the legs are swung to extended position preparatory to spreading them the studs I! enter the large portions of the keyhole slots. In the embodiment illustrated the leaves of the hinges l2 are of such length as to receive the pivot bolts E5. The hinges thus serve as bearings for the pivot bolts and as reinforcements for the legs. or swung to fully erected position the studs I! move intothe reduced portions of the keyhole slots and serve as a looking or retaining means for preventing collapsing of the legs, and they are brought into substantially parallel relation to register the heads of the studs with the large portions of the keyhole slots. When the legs are in erected position the beveled upper edges of the leg rails abut the under side of the top bar so that the several parts are braced throughout, that is, all of the loading stress is not carried by the hinge connections.

I have illustrated an embodiment of the invention in a saw-horse, but the invention is desirable for use in trestles of various types. It is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody the invention as may be desired.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a trestle, the combination with a top bar, of a pair of leg rails, a pair of leaf hinges con necting one of said leg rails to the under side of said top bar, the hinge leaves connected to the top bar having downwardly projecting arms When the legs are separated portions and coacting headed pintles projecting at their headed ends to engage said keyhole slots in said arms on said leg rail hinges when the legs are swung to extended position relative to the leg rails, said pintles engaging the reduced portions of said keyhole slots when the legs are swung to fully erected position, the hinges for the legs constituting hinges for the other leg rail, said leg rails having beveled upper edges in supported abutting engagement with the under side of the top bar when in erected position, and collapsible lockingbraces for said pairs of legs.

2. In a trestle, the combinatio with a top bar, of a pair of leg rails, a pair of leaf hinges con-, necting one of said leg rails to the under side of said top bar, the hinge leaves connected to the to bar having downwardly projecting arms at the outer ends thereof provided with inclined keyhole slots, pairs of legs pivotally mounted on the inner sides of said leg rails to be swung into erected position at an angle thereto or to a collapsed position between the side rails when the side rails are collapsed, hinges connecting the upper ends of saidlegs, said hinges comprising headed pintles projecting at their headed ends to engage said keyhole slots in said arms on said leg rail hinges when the legs are swung to extended position relative to the leg rails, said pintles engaging the reduced portions of said keyhole slots when th legs are swung to fully erected position, the hinges for thelegs constituting hinges for the other leg rail, and braces for said pairs of legs.

3. In a trestle, the bar, of a pair of leg rails, hinges connecting one of said leg rails to the under side of said top bar,

pairs of legs pivotally mounted on the inner sides of said leg rails to be swung to erected position or to a collapsed position between the side rails when the side rails are collapsed, hinges connect ing the upper ends of said legs, depending lugs carried by said top bar andprovided with keyhole slots, the leg hinges being provided with headed elements entering the large portions of said slots when the legs are swung to extended position and engaging the reduced portionsthere of when the legs are swung to fully erected p? sition, and the hinges for the legs constituting hinges for the second leg rail, the upper edges of the second rail abutting the under sideof the top rail when the legs are in erected position.

4. In a trestle, the combination with a top bar,

of said hinges extending longitudinally .of said, top bar, pairs of legs pivotally mounted on theof said hinges extending longitudinally of said 4 r. by the extending and erecting of the legs, the upper edge of the second rail abutting the under edge of the top rail when the legs are in erected position.

5. In a trestle, the combination with a top ban: of a pair of leg rails extending longitudinally of the top bar, hinges connecting one of said leg,

rails to the under side of said top bar, the axes top bar, pairs of legs pivotally mounted on the inner sides of said leg rails to be swung to erected, position or to a collapsed. positionbe tween the side rails when the side rails are collapsed, hinges connecting the upper ends of said legs, and interlocking members carried by said legs and top bar engageable and disengageable by the extending anderecting of the legs.

6. In a trestle, the combination with the top bar, of a pair of leg rails extending longitudinally of the top bar, one of said leg rails being hingedly between the side rails, the second legrail being swingably supported by its connection to the pairs of legs, dependinglugs on said top bar having keyhole slots therein, headed studs connected to combination with a top 7 inner sides of said leg rails to be swung to created.

position or to a collapsed position between the side rails when the side rails are collapsed, hinges connecting the upper ends of said legs, the hinges for the legs constituting a hinge for the second leg rail, and interlocking members carried by said legs and top bar engageable and disengageable said legs. and engageable with said keyhole {slots when the legs are swung to erected position, and braces for said pairs of legs.

'7. In a trestle, the combination bar, of a pairof leg rails extending longitudinally of the top bar, one of said leg rails being hingedly connected to the under side of the'top bar, the

axis of the hinged connection'extending longitudinally of the top barga pair of hingedly cone nected legs pivotally mounted ,on said leg rails" to be swung to erected position or to be collapsed between the side rails, thesecond leg rail being.

swingably supported by its connection to the pairs of legs, and co-engaging members on said top bar and legs adapted to be engagedand'disengaged by the swinging of the legs to and from erected position. l

9. In a trestle, the combination with a top bar, of a pair of leg rails, one of said leg rails being hingedly connected to theunder side of the top bar, pairs of legs pivotally mounted on the inner sides of said leg rails to'be swung to, erected'position or to a collapsed position'between the side rails when the rails arecollapsed, hinges connecting the upper ends of said legs, the pivotsfor said legs being disposed through the members'of said hinges whereby the hinge members constitute bearings for the leg pivots and reinforcements for 7 the legs, and interlocking members carried by HERMAN GOOSMANN. Z 

